Token-Ring Electrical Device Control for Ground Loop Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for controlling multiple electrical devices, such as lighting and access control, face challenges in efficient communication and control across a chain of devices, particularly in environments with significant ground loops and varying line phases, which interfere with data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a token-ring protocol with two communication ports per device, allowing devices to form a data ring for communication, enabling control by sensors like dimmers, and utilizing low-cost micro-controllers to manage complex installations with robust error handling, eliminating the need for a Media Access Unit (MAU) and supporting long-distance data wiring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If devices are connected in a chain to enable control by a single sensor, then the control capability is improved, but the complexity of handling ground loops and varying line phases increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a token-ring communication protocol as an intermediary layer between sensors and electrical devices. This protocol operates over the power lines but isolates the control logic from the electrical interference of ground loops and phase variations. The token-passing mechanism ensures that control signals are transmitted in a structured manner, with each device in the chain receiving and forwarding tokens sequentially, thereby managing complexity through protocol-level abstraction rather than direct electrical connection management.
2Reliability
If a token-ring protocol is used for communication, then the robustness to data errors is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The token-ring protocol segments the communication process into discrete token-passing steps. Each device in the chain independently handles token reception, processing, and forwarding without needing to manage the entire communication sequence. This segmentation distributes the complexity across multiple simple device states (receive token, process command, forward token) rather than requiring each device to implement complex error-handling logic, thereby achieving robustness through protocol structure rather than device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If low-cost micro-controllers are used, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the ability to handle complex communication protocols decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The token-ring protocol is designed to be self-sufficient at the protocol level, requiring minimal processing capability from individual micro-controllers. Each device autonomously handles token reception and forwarding based on simple state transitions, without needing sophisticated communication stacks or complex processing power. The protocol itself manages the complexity of error handling and sequence control, allowing inexpensive micro-controllers to participate in robust multi-device networks through self-service operation rather than requiring high-performance processors.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed subject matter provides a method for installing and controlling a plurality of electrical devices such as lighting, air-conditioning, heating, and access control. The control may be from a plurality of sensors, so that one or more device can be controlled according to a sensor. Sensor types include dimmers, occupancy sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, daylight sensors, On/Off touch sensors, other sensor types, or a combination of sensors.